Russia launches largest drone attack since Iranian support began, says Zelenskyy

The plant, located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia's southern Tatarstan region, utilizes a range of Chinese components in the production of these Iranian-designed attack and surveillance drones, according to the report.

Satellite imagery analyzed by CNN and experts shows that two additional buildings have been constructed at the site, and security increased.

In June 2023, US intelligence alleged Iran was aiding Russia in building a drone manufacturing facility in Yelabuga, within the Alabuga Special Economic Zone on the steppes of the Tatarstan region.

The plant focuses on producing Shahed-136 drones domestically, which Russia rebranded as the Geran-2. The collaboration aims to manufacture approximately 6,000 drones by mid-2025, ensuring a consistent supply for Russia's military needs.

CNN's analysis of associated social media accounts and assessments from Ukrainian defense intelligence sources reveal the factory's significant expansion and its reliance on a young, low-skilled workforce of Russian teenagers and African women.

The sources, who spoke to CNN anonymously for safety reasons, said that the factory is now also producing thousands of “decoy” drones, designed to exhaust Ukrainian defenses.

The latest sanctions package is designed to address the use of chemical weapons on Ukraine's frontlines but also extends to those implicated in the transfer of arms to Russia for deployment in the conflict, according to the New Zealand Foreign Ministry.

The sanctions target seven individuals and five entities, with six of the individuals being Iranian nationals. These include Ali Jafarabadi, Head of Iran's Space Command within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force (IRGC-ASF), and Hamid Reza Sharifi Tehrani, a member of the Board of Directors of Qods Aviation Industries.

Others named are Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, Mohammad Sadegh Heidari Mousa, and Mohsen Asadi, all members of the Board of Paravar Pars Company. Additionally, Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari, Director General for International Relations of Iran’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), is also listed.

“Transfers of Iranian weaponry facilitates Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. New Zealand condemns those who are providing support,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Thursday.

These sanctions come amid intensified Russian drone offensives in Ukraine, where Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones have caused significant damage to infrastructure and residential areas.

“The enemy launched a record number of Shahed attack UAVs and unidentified drones,” Ukraine's air force said Tuesday in a statement reported by Reuters.

Known for their low cost and destructive capability, these drones have been extensively deployed to target Ukrainian energy facilities and civilian areas. Ukrainian authorities have described the latest wave of attacks as the most extensive use of Shahed drones to date.

International criticism of Iran’s role in the conflict has grown. Earlier this week, the G7 and the European Union issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s arms transfers to Russia and its missile activities in the Middle East, highlighting the broader destabilizing impact of Tehran’s actions.

Similarly, in September, the G7 condemned Iran, declaring, "Iran must immediately cease all support to Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and halt such transfers of ballistic missiles, UAVs, and related technology." The statement underscored the broader implications of these actions, identifying them as a direct threat to Ukraine, European stability, and global security.

New Zealand’s sanctions align with similar moves by other nations, reinforcing global efforts to address Iran’s military collaboration with Russia and its impact on Ukraine’s sovereignty and regional stability.

Residential buildings in the Kyiv region also suffered damage, though no casualties have been reported.

“The enemy launched a record number of Shahed attack UAVs and unidentified drones,” Ukraine's air force said in a statement reported by Reuters.

Iran's Shahed drones were also used in the assault. Known for their low cost and effective kamikaze-style design, they have been deployed extensively by Russian forces to target Ukrainian infrastructure, including energy facilities and military positions.

Russia's use of Iranian drones has seen multiple nations impose sanctions on Tehran claiming that the drones have been used on civilian targets in Ukraine.

The Shahed drones, often rebranded as Geran-2 by Russia, are equipped with loitering capabilities, allowing them to hover over targets before striking with precision.

The Ukrainian air force reported that 76 of the 188 drones were intercepted, while the remainder evaded tracking, likely due to Russia’s use of electronic warfare. The assault also included four Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

Kyiv’s military administration reported that air defense units destroyed more than 10 Russian drones which targeted the capital. However, falling debris caused damage to several properties in the surrounding region, including four private residences and two high-rise buildings, according to regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko.

The attack caused extensive damage to Ternopil’s power grid, cutting electricity to around 70% of the region and disrupting water and heat supplies, officials said.

Governor Vyacheslav Nehoda warned that power disruptions could persist for an extended period. “The consequences are bad because the facility was significantly affected, and this will impact the power supply of the entire region for a long time,” he told national television.

Local authorities have begun implementing planned power cuts to manage shortages while engineers work to restore the grid. Electric buses in the city have been replaced with regular buses, and generators are being deployed to essential facilities such as schools, hospitals, and government offices, according to Serhiy Nadal, head of the regional defense headquarters.

The surge in nightly drone attacks coincides with intensified Russian offensives in Ukraine’s east, where territorial gains have reached their highest levels in months. Analysts say Russia is deploying a mix of cheaply-produced suicide drones and low-cost decoy drones designed to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses.

The drones approached Kyiv in waves and from different directions, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said via Telegram, adding that there were no reported injuries within the city.

The overnight attack placed most of Ukraine under air raid alerts for hours, with the air force reporting damage in multiple regions, including residential buildings and strikes to critical infrastructure facilities.

"The change you're going to see is more focus on Iran," Mike Waltz, Trump's nominee to be US national security advisor, told CNBC in an interview.

"Maximum pressure, not only will it help stability in the Middle East, but it'll help stability in the Russia-Ukraine theater as well, as Iran provides ballistic missiles and literally thousands and thousands of drones that are going into that theater," he added.

The Republican congressman from Florida shares a strong pro-Israel and anti-Tehran stance with many of the incoming president's other top foreign policy picks.

In his last term, President Trump withdrew the United States from an international deal over Iran's disputed nuclear program and reimposed what his administration called a maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.

By ordering the assassination of a top Iranian military commander, Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020, Trump earned the lasting enmity of Iran's ruling military and clerical establishment which has repeatedly vowed revenge.

US investigators have alleged that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sought to enlist an Afghan national to assassinate Trump before the US election, in charges Iran denies.

The reimposition of harsh sanctions enforcement which had eased somewhat under President Joe Biden may herald a new era of confrontation between the United States in Iran as conflict between US ally Israel and armed Iranian fighters rages on.

Waltz said Iran was an obstacle to peace in the Middle East and that oil sales to China were a key lifeline that needs to be cut off.

"As long as they are flushed with cash, the Middle East is just never going to have peace. Iran doesn't want the Middle East to be in peace," he said.

"China buys 90% of Iran's illicit oil, in roughly 2017, 2018, they were exporting 4 million barrels per day. By the end of Trump's first administration, it was down to around 300,000 to 400,000," he added. "So I think we'll be having some conversations with China about their purchases."

According to the Kyiv Independent, Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least four people and injured at least 37 over the past day, including a child.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 59 of the 116 Iranian Shahed drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

Russia’s drone attacks using Iranian-made UAVs have led to global sanctions on Tehran, for having targeted civilian areas.

"Another night, another worry," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on Telegram. "The enemy does not reduce the intensity of air attacks on Ukraine and Kyiv.”

Russia also attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M or North Korean KN-23 ballistic missile, one Kh-35 guided aerial missile, and one Kh-31P guided aerial missile, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that shrapnel from around 10 downed drones landed in three main districts of the capital. Multiple buildings and power cables suffered damage in addition to casualties.

According to the Atlantic Council’s February analysis, Russia’s capacity as a leading weapons exporter has been damaged by the more than two years of war on Ukraine, meaning Iran has “become more dominant and attractive in the eyes of countries that previously depended on Russia’s supply of military equipment”.

However, with collaboration between Iran and Russia deepening, from military exercises to building a drone factory, the Atlantic Council report by Danny Citrinowicz said that “the current situation can create a joint venture between Iran and Russia that may increase their conventional mutual arms sales due to their high production capabilities”.

Citrinowicz said that Iran has sold more than two thousand drones to Russia alone until 2024, making millions of dollars from the sales, in spite of both nations being heavily sanctioned. Current estimates of drone deliveries range from 4-8 thousand units.

“Iran has no political or legal restrictions that prevent it from selling these weapons around the world; it is apparently not afraid that these products will fall into the hands of dangerous foreign parties,” he warned.

However, it is not only drones which Iran is exporting. Earlier this month, the EU sanctioned seven individuals and seven entities following Iran’s missile and drone transfers to Russia.

“This decision follows the indication by the European Council in March 2024 that, were Iran to transfer ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia for use against Ukraine, the EU would be prepared to respond swiftly, including with new and significant restrictive measures,” a statement said.

“Today’s designation includes individuals and entities responsible for the development and transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technology to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine, and to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region,” the statement added.